Hockey’s Hedican gets golden backing from wife

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) – U.S. defenseman Bret
Hedican expects to have his own special cheerleader at the
Turin Olympics — his wife Kristi who won gold 14 years ago.

Hedican’s wife, 1992 Olympic figure skating gold medallist
Kristi Yamaguchi, is making last-minute plans to attend the
Games, he told Reuters on Tuesday.

Hedican was named to the U.S. team on Monday as a late
replacement for the injured Los Angeles Kings’ Aaron Miller.

“It was a great moment,” the Carolina Hurricanes’ player
said. “She was happy and I was happy.”

Yamaguchi had not planned to attend the Games, Hedican
said, but his addition to the U.S. team led her to reconsider.

“We have a new baby (a second daughter born in November) so
it’s a little bit tough for her right now, but she is going to
try and make it over,” Hedican said.

The couple met briefly at the 1992 Olympics but did not
begin dating until 1995. They were married in 2000.

(Writing by Gene Cherry)